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2014 Colorado high school football games of the week for Week 1

By Neil Devlin and Joe NguyenThe Denver Post

Posted:
08/28/2014 03:22:03 PM MDT

Updated:
08/28/2014 03:26:09 PM MDT

Regis Jesuit OL Tim Lynott, left, is one of the state's top recruit and will play at the University of Colorado next year. The Regis Jesuit High School varsity football team works through their drills during practice on Monday, Aug. 18, 2014. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

A matchup that there should be more of, but they haven't faced each other in more than a decade. Cherry Creek, ranked No. 2, returns about half of its starters from a year ago. In 2013, the Bruins were 10-2 and won the Centennial League. Perhaps chief among their returnees are Milo Hall and D.J. Luke, about as good of a running-back tandem as there is across the state. Regis Jesuit, the Continental League champ last year, figures to be rugged across both fronts, led by CU-bound Tim Lynott, and QB Matt Houghtaling. Schools have had trouble drawing crowds. If they do for this one, then we definitely have a problem.

Pomona coach Jay Madden will line up his Panthers agaist most anyone: "We'll play 'em," he said. Two-time defending champion - and winner of five straight (3A, 2009 and 4A from 2010-11) - Valor, top-ranked in the AP Media Poll, won its opener in Zero Week, by 61-20 at Bonneville in Idaho Springs, Idaho. Eagles sophomore QB Dylan McCaffrey was 7-of-9 for 109 yards and three TDs. Valor hasn't lost an in-state game since the 2012 opener, 14-13 to Mullen. The two teams last met in 2011, when the Eagles won 38-0. The Panthers, No. 5 and featuring Colorado pledge offensive lineman Dillon Middlemiss, also will meet Cherry Creek and Mullen in nonleague.

It will be the first game for Heritage without Mike Griebel as coach in 20 years. He was unceremoniously removed. So it's the debut for new boss Tyler Knoblock, who welcomes back a talented group of underclassmen. The Eagles' defensive front seven and their skill set figures to be team strengths. Overland opened in Zero Week with a 50-15 nonleague thrashing of district-rival Smoky Hill. QB Austin Conway threw for three TDS and ran for another. Tyriq Jones ran for two TDs and Kevin Prosses snared two passes for scores.

Mountain Range had a breakout year in 2013. The Mustangs enjoyed an 8-1 regular season, swept through the Front Range League and won a big-school playoff game. Now, however, the Mustangs embark on reloading and they'll be doing it with a lot of first-time starters, according to coach Bryan Davey. Meanwhile, Mountain Vista and coach Ric Cash figure they have the goods to make a move within the class and new Continental North. The Golden Eagles were 4-7 in 2013, but return seven starters on each side, a nice skill set (QB Brock Rubley) and are committed to playing F-A-S-T.

It will be one of the few times the metropolitan area will get to view a Pueblo team. 4A Pueblo Centennial was blown out in Zero Week by Pine Creek, 49-12. The game also will mark the debut of Mark Robinson taking over Highlands Ranch. The Falcons, 2-8 last season, are basically being rebuilt and also have tweeting about their new uniforms. Pueblo Centennial is the 4A Southern League, the Falcons are in the new 5A Continental North.

This early-season 4A matchup pits two teams that advanced to the quarterfinals of last year's state tournament. ... South is led by senior Trevonte "Tank" Tasco. The 5-foot-8, 250-pound tailback ran for 1,080 yards and seven touchdowns last season. ... Loveland senior QB/RB recorded 516 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground last year.

Montrose kicked off its season with a dominating 41-15 win over Grand Junction. Fullback Mike Rocha rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns. ... Speaking of Rocha, the senior ran for 1,572 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. ... Delta, the top-ranked team in the 3A AP poll, also won its debut: a 27-22 win over The Classical Academy. Junior RB Jonny Ponce ran wild, rushing for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

CLASS 2A(7) Strasburg at (1) Platte ValleyFriday, 7 p.m.

Strasburg will rely heavily on senior running back Jacob Smith, who led the team in rushing last season with 1,486 yards and 15 touchdowns. ... Platte Valley, the defending 2A champ, kicked off its new season with a 34-13 win over Resurrection Christian.

CLASS 6-MAN
(3) Peetz at (5) Arickaree/WoodlinFriday, 7 p.m.

Two of Class 6-man's top programs in the preseason AP poll are meeting in this early-season matchup. ... Peetz ended Arickaree's undefeated season last year, knocking the Indians out of playoff contention. ... Peetz players Bradey Holtz and Jordan Nelson combined for 1,580 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns last season.

Rockies relief pitcher John Axford, who hasn't pitched for the team since last Wednesday, was forced to leave spring training camp after his 2-year-old son was bit by a rattlesnake twice in his right foot.

One-day event to run slide down University HillIt's not quite the alternative mode of transportation that Boulder's used to, but, for one day this summer, residents will be able to traverse several city blocks atop inflatable tubes.

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